The South Dakota School of Mines volleyball team defeated the Dickinson State Lady Blue Hawks 3-2 during a non-conference matching in Rapid City, SD.

The Hardrockers were off to a slow start in set one as they dropped the set, 24-26. The 'Rockers struggled to find their rhythm offensively due to the Blue Hawk block.  Despite the unusual number of hitting errors for the Hardrockers, they were still able to pull ahead 5 different times in the set.

The offensive struggle continued for the Hardrockers throughout set 2, but they were able to fight for a set win due to their consistent passing and aggressive serving tactics.  The Blue Hawk block seemed to consistently protect the ball from ever crossing over to the Blue Hawk side which forced the 'Rockers to make 11 hitting errors in the set. Fortunately, the Blue Hawks were only able to put away 9 kills in the set due to the impeccable defensive effort by the 'Rockers.  The Hardrockers won the set with a score of 25-21.

Set 3 went to the Blue Hawks, 20-25.  The Blue Hawks posted their best set hitting percentage of the match at .333 which put the pressure on the Hardrocker defense.  Freshman Dejah Behrend entered the match for the Hardrockers toward the end of set 3, which sparked the team's momentum and energy as she posted several thunderous kills upon entering the match.  It was not enough time for the 'Rockers to take the set, but the momentum definitely was on the rise towards the end of the set and it certainly was carried over to set 4.

In sets 4 and 5 the Hardrockers found their confidence and rhythm. There was no turning back for the Hardrockers as their offense was firing away from pin to pin. The Hardrockers won the first point of set four and there wasn't another lead change or tied point the rest of the match.  They pounded 20 kills to the ground while hitting a scorching .486 in set 4.  Behrend was hitting 1.000 through the 4th set as every ball she touched she buried to the ground near the 10-foot line. Hazard and Dana Thomson were also able to put away several crowd pleasing kills in the fourth set, as the presence of the middle attack challenged the Blue Hawk block.

Shyann Bastian opened set 5 rattling off 5 straight serves that put the pressure on the Blue Hawks to call an early time out.  Caryn Hazard challenged the Blue Hawk block and defense immediately in the set as she put away 3 kills to open the set. From that point on the Hardrockers were nearly unstoppable offensively as they found the seams in the Blue Hawk block.  Junior Emma Boeke served a crucial ace at point 10 that sustained the team's energy.  Bastian closed the set on a kill set up by a Blue Hawk over pass.

The Hardrockers won the match, 24-26, 25-21, 20-25, 25-12, 15-7.  The Hardrockers finished the match with 70 kills on 211 attacks for a .180 hitting percentage.  They added 67 assists, 102 digs, 7 service aces, and 5 total blocks. Dickinson notched 52 kills on 183 attacks, had 48 assists, 85 digs and 6 total blocks.

The Hardrockers were led offensively yet again by Dana Thomson who posted 27 kills on 81 attempts for a .222 hitting percentage.  Hardrocker middle blockers also had stand out performance as Jacey Koethe had 8 kills on 16 attempts for a .316 hitting percentage while racking up 3 blocks.  Playing in only 2 and a half sets, Behrend posted 4 kills on 5 attempts.  Bastian ran the Hardrocker offense by posting a match high 51 assists. Per usual, freshman Anna Thomas posted a match high number of digs with 35, averaging an insane 7 digs per set.

The Hardrockers look to carry their momentum into RMAC play.  The 'Rockers travel to Utah to open RMAC play.  They will square up with Westminster on Friday night in Salt Lake City, then travel to Saint George to compete